Appearance vs. Reality In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice the theme of appearance versus reality is a recurring one. Austen seeks to prove that often one’s appearance hides one’s true character. This concept is clearly evident in the case of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham and how they appear to Elizabeth Bennet. From her first impressions of both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth comes to misguided conclusions about their true character. …showed first 75 words of 677 total…

…showed last 75 words of 677 total…caring heart. Elizabeth learns many lessons from her experiences with these two men. Elizabeth learns that you do not judge a book by it’s cover. Through Elizabeth’s realizations, Jane Austen offers a universal theme that can be related to any society: judging by first impressions will more often than not create a misconception of someone’s true personality. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen effectively shows that reality can often be hidden by appearance.